Acquired coronary cameral fistulas: are these collaterals losing their destination?

The majority of coronary cameral fistulas (CCFs) are congenital in origin. On the other hand, acquired coronary cameral fistulas, having various etiopathogenic origins, are increasingly recognized.

The aim of this study was to assess the possible involvement of coronary atherosclerosis in the pathogenesis of acquired coronary cameral fistulas.

Between 1993 and 1996 coronary cameral fistulas were detected in seven adults patients with coronary atherosclerosis (n = 4) and following myocardial infarction (n = 3) with a mean age of 59.3 years (range 40-77). They were analyzed at our hospital.

Myocardial infarction (MI) was documented in six patients and was localized at the same territory of the fistula-related artery in three of them. All patients remained asymptomatic after the detection of the fistula. Five patients had associated cardiac disorders. Two patients were treated conservatively with medical therapy. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed in three patients. One patient died while awaiting CABG. Thirty-four adult cases with acquired CCFs were collected from the current literature. The right coronary artery was the origin of the fistula in 37% and they terminated into the right heart-side in 72% of cases. They remained asymptomatic in 62% of cases.

It could be concluded that acquired CCFs may complicate the course of severe atherosclerosis or myocardial infarction in certain adult patients. The symptomatology and treatment strategy is comparable in the congenital and acquired types. The distribution of involvement of the right or left coronary arteries is equally divided in both the acquired and congenital types. Further studies are needed to investigate the precipitating factors for the occurrence of and incidence of acquired CCFs in patients with severe atherosclerosis or post-MI subjects.